Akin OjumuFilm editor, the Observer James Cameron's Avatar, the biggest box-office draw in history, is up for nine Oscars at tonight's Academy Awards. But how much of its success is due to the fact it was shot entirely in 3D? We talked to top bloggers to discuss what the technology could mean for the future of entertainment.

Adam WoodwardWeb editor, Littlewhitelies.co.ukLast Friday, I sat down to watch Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland in eye-smacking 3D. During the more frenzied action sequences, I was left disoriented and, moreover, frustrated at the lack of clarity. By and large, I enjoyed the film, but I found myself wishing it had been presented in good old-fashioned 2D. Watching Alice made me realise that aside from Avatar, which I'll happily admit was an iris-evaporating sensory assault that left me cooing, there are very few 3D viewings I've actually enjoyed because of the extra-dimensional "enhancement".

Jon LyusContent director, Heyuguys.co.ukFollowing the success of Avatar, you can expect a slew of similar event films and a rush of 3D conversions in post-production. The quality of these films, and their 3D nature, will vary wildly. It will always depend on the film. Jane Austen adaptations in 3D simply will not happen and 2D films will still be on offer at your local cinema.

Matt BochenskiEditor, Littlewhitelies.co.uk Studios are desperate for 3D to work, as are cinemas. They feel embattled at the moment. They've seen falling DVD and ticket sales, and while their audiences aren't disappearing, they're certainly dispersing. They're determined to sell you the idea that 3D is the future, but I think audiences and film-makers are savvier than that. Almost all film-makers believe that the future of film is not with Avatar-esque blockbusters, but with more modestly budgeted genre movies that have a built-in audience and a safer return.

Akin OjumuFilm editor, the Observer Hollywood has tried to use 3D in the past to add an extra wow factor to the movies and it has never worked for long. The technology now is amazing, but you need film-makers of great vision to ensure it really adds something worthwhile to a movie.

Ed BarkerEditor, Unitedrant.co.ukI live to watch football in 3D. It's called 3pm, Saturday, at Old Trafford. Football on the TV is never going to be the same shared experience as in the stadium. The noise, passion, even the smell of match day just can't be recreated on a screen. But if the depth of view I saw in Avatar can be matched with 3D football on the television, then that's definitely an upgrade. Now, where do I get the pies?

patrickvonsGuardian.co.uk commentsIt took colour film two decades to permeate all genres of Hollywood movies, so why do we expect that 3D should have that same effect after a mere handful of films or chastise it for not being right for a Ken Loach piece? With noted film-makers such as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese venturing into the third dimension it is worth taking a step back and reflecting a bit more deeply on the medium.

Jonathan CresswellBritishgaming.co.uk The gaming industry is trying to follow films into 3D. Although there is a lot of talk of in-home 3D gaming, the domestic technology does not yet exist, so it's a long way off becoming mainstream, and right now it doesn't look as if it will become standard. The next five years may prove otherwise, but at the moment gaming is just trying to piggy-back off the success of 3D film.

Matt Bochenski 3D can't change cinema forever. What can change cinema is the emergence of talented film-makers who understand how to utilise this new tool to show us something we've never seen before. Right now, too many of them are using 3D to poke us in the eye rather than pierce us in the heart. Unless that changes, audiences are going to get jaded very quickly and 3D will become a phenomenally expensive sideshow.